Meet 3 UMSI entrepreneurs gearing up to pursue full-time ventures

For Kelvin Chang (MSI ’26), Shalin Zarboulas (BSI ’26) and Zannah Baker (BSI ’26), information science is the key to building ventures that bring real value to users. In their final year at the University of Michigan School of Information, all three have been selected as 2025-26 Zell Entrepreneurs on the venture track. 

The competitive program, hosted by the Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurship at Michigan Ross, provides mentorship, connections and up to $10,000 in funding to students who plan to pursue their ventures full-time after graduation. 

Keeping organizational memory alive through AI

Kelvin Chang, a Master of Science in Information student on the user-centered agile development pathway, is leveraging AI to create a continuous memory for organizations. Through lightweight journaling and AI summaries, Tinu AI keeps track of human expertise, ensuring the “why” behind crucial decisions is accessible even after employees depart. 

UMSI: What inspired you to pursue Tinu AI?

Kelvin Chang: Every year, businesses in the U.S. lose more than a trillion dollars to employee turnover. What’s really lost isn’t just people, it’s context. I saw this firsthand at Coinbase, where I worked as a product manager. I was leading a major product launch and nearly missed migrating several key clients because the people who made earlier decisions had already left. That experience made me realize how fragile organizational memory can be. With my experience launching 0 to 1 products, I knew I could use AI to help companies capture and retain the knowledge that usually disappears when people move on. That’s how Tinu AI began.

How has your education at UMSI shaped your entrepreneurial skills and aspirations?

I can honestly say I wouldn’t be building Tinu AI today without UMSI. My undergraduate dual degree in UX design at UMSI and business at Ross gave me the foundation to see problems from both the user and strategy side. Ross helped me develop soft skills and laid the groundwork for navigating the business world, while the user research training I received at UMSI was essential in understanding real customer pain points. When I came back for my master’s, I made the decision to build something of my own. I knew I would have UMSI’s support and could fully leverage the entrepreneurial environment here at U-M. UMSI has taught me how to be independent, to find solutions when answers were not handed to me, and to stay persistent through rejection and uncertainty. That resilience has become one of the most valuable traits I bring into building Tinu AI, and I look forward to working with UMSI to build out more resources for students who want to follow this same path of entrepreneurship. 

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Zell Entrepreneur? 

Being selected as a Zell Entrepreneur is both an honor and a challenge to live up to the program’s legacy. It means joining a community of people who are serious about building something meaningful. For me, it also reaffirms that choosing to pursue Tinu AI full time is the right path. I don’t want to spend my time building someone else’s dream when I have the chance to build my own. The program gives me the mentorship and structure to take Tinu AI from idea to impact, and one day, I hope to give back in the same spirit that Sam Zell had: a spirit of generosity, boldness and belief in the next generation of builders.

The college search, but make it personal

Applying to colleges is a common experience, but Shalin Zarboulas, a Bachelor of Science in Information student on the user experience design path, realized something is often missing from college rankings and information sessions: a peer perspective. Her venture, Skala, brings a human touch into the college search process. 

UMSI: What inspired you to pursue Skala, and what impact do you hope it might have on students?

Shalin Zarboulas: Skala was born out of a personal pain point: My younger brother felt overwhelmed by the traditional college search process. Despite rankings, tours and advice from counselors, nothing clicked — until I connected him with a friend at a school he was visiting for a one-on-one campus tour. That single experience completely changed his perspective and helped him find his dream school. It showed us how powerful peer conversations can be and that this shouldn’t be a one-off. With Skala, I want every student to access that kind of authentic, personalized insight, while giving college students a flexible way to earn an income and share their experience. We’re rethinking how students make one of the biggest decisions of their lives.

How has your education at UMSI shaped your entrepreneurial skills and aspirations?

UMSI — especially the UX path — has been instrumental in shaping how I approach entrepreneurship. It’s taught me to build around real user needs, not assumptions, and to focus on solving actual pain points. I’ve also gained the skills to rapidly prototype and conduct user research, which has been essential for developing Skala with continuous feedback and real-world insight.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Zell Entrepreneur? 

Being selected as a Zell Entrepreneur is incredibly meaningful, since it validates that the idea I’ve been building has real potential. It also opens the door to an amazing network and resources that can help take Skala to the next level. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who’s supported me along the way, and I’m excited to keep learning, growing and building.

Removing barriers in frontline hiring 

Zannah Baker, a Bachelor of Science in Information student on the information analysis track, saw a way to make the hiring process faster and more human. Fastflo is a hiring platform that helps businesses recruit frontline workers more accessibly by moving the entire process into the messaging apps candidates already use everyday. 

UMSI: What inspired you to pursue Fastflo, and what impact do you hope it might have on students?

Zannah Baker: I was inspired to pursue my venture after seeing how outdated and inefficient hiring can be. I'm hoping to create an impact for the blue-collar and frontline worker population by making the process more accessible and easier for both candidates and recruiters.

How has your education at UMSI shaped your entrepreneurial skills and aspirations?

My education in the BSI program has given me the tools to think analytically and tackle challenges with a data-driven approach. I'm able to apply these skills to building a product that is both efficient and centered in user needs.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Zell Entrepreneur? 

To be selected as a Zell Entrepreneur is an incredible opportunity to grow alongside fellow founders who are just as ambitious and excited about entrepreneurship. I'm grateful to be a part of a community that will challenge me, push me to improve and support me as I build.

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